A well-executed, surreal tale that will have you laughing one minute, holding back tears the next, and possibly laughing and crying at the same time (if you’re capable). Meghan Brown’s The Fire Room presents a version of the afterlife that is both tragic and allows for endless possibilities—but only if those possibilities are allowed to grow. As it seems, in death (as in life) no one is done climbing the ladder of understanding, and if you’re not willing to be patient and keep climbing, you’ll stay stuck at the bottom—possibly in bureaucratic hell.
Amanda McRaven’s direction also presents the story in an interesting and complimentary light. The cold, dark, and lonely confines of death blanket the audience from the moment you take your seat, and the atmosphere envelopes your senses, casting you into the depths along with the characters, but allowing for gasps of laughter, joy, and closure.